There are a number of teams in the league who have gotten off to 0-2 starts this season. However, none of them have done so with as much futility as the Miami Dolphins have.
The Dolphins have been outscored by 92 points after two games, and are once again massive underdogs this Sunday against the Cowboys. However, they will now have a new quarterback to hopefully lead them into better days.
On Thursday, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores named Josh Rosen as the team’s new starting quarterback, beginning this Sunday. The second-year pro will replace the veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started each of the last two blowout losses.
Rosen will be the 21st quarterback to start for Miami since Dan Marino retired in 2000, which is the third-most QBs during that span, behind only Cleveland (29) and Chicago (23).
Flores had been questioned all week about the starting quarterback, reiterating each time that Fitzpatrick was the starter “right now.” But with Rosen splitting starting reps in practice this week, and with Miami scoring just 10 total points through two games, the coaching staff decided that now was as good of a time as ever for a change.
Rosen, 22, has seen the field in both of Miami’s games so far. However, it’s been in garbage time, when the games have been well out of reach. Between both of those appearances, he has completed 38.1 percent of his pass attempts (8-for-21) for 102 yards, with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.
Looking To The Future
For the Dolphins, this move is incredibly important for the future of the franchise. Miami will use these next 14 games as a trial for Rosen, to see if he is their franchise quarterback of the future. With the team widely expected to be picking near the top of the 2020 draft, where Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert are the best options under center, Miami has to know by season’s end what they have in Rosen.
As for Rosen, this stretch of games will be huge for him as well, and his future in the NFL. No player in recent memory has had an unluckier start to a career. Taken 10th overall by the Cardinals in 2018, Rosen went 3-10 in 13 starts for Arizona, throwing for 2,278 yards with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions behind a miserable offensive line.
After securing the worst record in the league, new head coach Kliff Kingsbury replaced one-and-done coach Steve Wilks and took QB Kyler Murray first overall.
With Rosen pushed out by the new regime, Miami took a chance on the promising youngster from UCLA. The Dolphins traded a second- and fifth-round pick for Rosen during the draft, but now gives him an equally-bad offensive line and another first-year coach. Should Rosen fail to impress over the next several weeks, the likelihood of him being on his third team in as many years skyrockets.
But so far, Rosen has left a positive impression on his new organization. He has been praised by the coaching staff for his performance as a backup for the last few weeks. He has also become much more familiar with the offense, enough so to where the team feels now is the time to make him the new starter.
Other Changes
That wasn’t the only move Miami made on Thursday. The Dolphins claimed defensive end Taco Charlton off of waivers from the Cowboys. Charlton, a first-round pick by Dallas in 2017, asked for a trade or release and was subsequently waived on Wednesday.
He has four career sacks in 27 games but couldn’t find a consistent role on Dallas’ defensive line. In a corresponding move, the Dolphins waived offensive lineman Bryan Witzmann to make room for their new pass-rusher.
Rosen, Charlton, and the Dolphins have their hands full in Week 3. They’ll go on the road to face a Cowboys team that has cruised through its first two games thus far. As it stands, even with Rosen replacing Fitzpatrick, Dallas is a massive 23-point favorite. Kickoff is at noon CT from AT&T Stadium.
